Nearly 50,000 babies referred to children’s care every year because of domestic abuse

Nearly 50,000 babies are referred to children’s care with domestic abuse as a contributing factor each year, according to alarming new research.

Domestic abuse charity The For Baby’s Sake Trust also found 1,924 of these babies aged 0-2 entered care every year over the past three years in England, based on a 3-year average.

This number accounts for 1 in 4 of the 7,826 total babies entering care every year.

The statistics, which were uncovered through Freedom of Information requests, found helping young victims of domestic abuse costs an estimated £43,500,000 each year.

Domestic abuse and pregnancy are closely linked. About 20% of women being supported by domestic abuse charity Refuge, for example, are pregnant or have recently given birth.

The full understanding of how many babies enter care who are victims hasn’t fully been uncovered. Many victims of domestic abuse are categorised in wider terms, such as ‘abuse’ and ‘family dysfunction’. 

These figures still don’t cover the entire scope of babies affected by domestic violence, according to the trust. 

Mum Alice* was a victim of domestic abuse which began when she was pregnant. She told Metro her ex-partner once pushed her, causing her to fall over paint in the bedroom and injuring her ankle.

Alice reached out to For Baby’s Sake, which worked with both parents to break the cycle of abuse.

This Is Not Right

On November 25, 2024 Metro launched This Is Not Right, a year-long campaign to address the relentless epidemic of violence against women.

Throughout the year we will be bringing you stories that shine a light on the sheer scale of the epidemic.

With the help of our partners at Women’s Aid, This Is Not Right aims to engage and empower our readers on the issue of violence against women.

You can find more articles here, and if you want to share your story with us, you can send us an email at [email protected].

Read more:

• Introducing This Is Not Right: Metro’s year-long violence against women campaign
• Yvette Cooper’s message to abusers and rapists: The streets don’t belong to you
• Remembering the women killed by men in 2024
• Stories about violence against women don’t make an impact – this is why
• Men – we need your help to end violence against women
• What to do if your loved one is at risk from domestic abuse

Nicole Jacobs, domestic abuse commissioner for England and Wales said the report highlights the ‘troubling reality’ that so many babies are affected by domestic abuse. 

She said: ‘It is absolutely essential that all professionals involved in children’s safeguarding fully understand the dynamics of domestic abuse, including coercive and controlling behaviour.’

Lauren Seager-Smith, chief executive of The For Baby’s Sake Trust, said: ‘By investing in preventative measures and improving data collection, we can break the cycle of harm, provide better support to families, and alleviate the growing pressure on the care system.’

Reforms suggested to protect babies from harm

• Investment in targeted intervention programmes to break cycles of domestic abuse

• Improved data categorisation to ensure abuse is accurately and consistently recorded

• Policy reform to encourage local and national governments to prioritise resources for addressing domestic abuse during pregnancy and early years. 

Sam Whyte, from the NSPCC, said the government ‘must prioritise investing in services aimed at early intervention and supporting the whole family’.

She added: ‘We also know domestic abuse can have long-term impacts on a child’s mental health and wellbeing, so it is vital they have access to ongoing practical and therapeutic support to help them recover and move forward with their lives.’

Metro has contacted the Department of Health and Social Care for comment.

*Names have been changed

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